Swingbridge Update.

Broadhurst Swingbridge No47 on the Macclesfield Canal has now been chained open to boat traffic & will remain so until it's repaired. Excellent news Brian on Working Coal Boat Alton rang C&RT and they have listened. Keith also got a reply back to his e-mail from C&RT about the same issue. So we can now stop worrying about getting a hernia or worse and my back will not have to go through the same struggle on our return trip. Many thanks to Brian he got a result.

Macclesfield to Fourlane Ends.

Travelled 6.74 miles, 0 locks or swing bridges in a time of 3 hours 10 minutes.

We left Macclesfield at 8.55am after a restless night for me with my back. For those who did not read my posting about the Broadhurst Swingbridge, I strained my back whilst trying to close the damn thing and now I am paying for it. Anyway despite feeling somewhat jaded we headed off on what was a rather overcast start to the day.

There are some wonderful bridges on the Macclesfield, I adore the snake bridges where the towpath changes from one side of the canal to the other. These bridges were designed to allow the horse to move from one side of the canal to the other without having to untie it from the boat, of course these days horse drawn boats are few and far between, but it is a wonderful piece of history.

Mileage Stones.

Hovis Mill in all its glory. The mill produced the flour which the Hovis bread was made from from 1898 to 1904. In 1904 the business outgrew the mill and so it was moved to Trafford Park, Manchester. To keep the mill in operation it went over to making the paper wrappers for the Hovis bread. Sadly in the 1990’s the mill became very run down and unloved, it was then bought and turned into the apartments you see today. The mill has retained many of its original features, which makes it all the more impressive.

We stopped just after the mill to take on water. There was absolutely no way we could get into the edge, so even with my back playing up I had to make a leap of faith. Water tank topped up we headed on our way, through stunning countryside.

If you have never been to this part of the world, I suggest you come and see it for yourself, it is truly beautiful.

Another goose sitting on her nest.

Watch out there is a Crocodile about.

Approaching the Adelphi Mill, Bollington. There are visitor moorings here, but many of them have fallen into the water and are now fenced off which is a real shame. It looks like some serious work needs to take place on the Macclesfield Canal.

White Nancy is a structure at the top of the northern extremity of The Saddle of Kerridge, overlooking the village of Kerridge and the town of Bollington. White Nancy was built as a Summer House by the Gaskell family in around 1815. it is thought it may have been built to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Waterloo. In 2012 it was painted to commemorate the Queen Diamond Jubilee.

Clarence Mill, Bollington, with its stunning chimney. The Mill is a five storey former cotton spinning mill. It was built between 1834 and 1877 for the Swindells Family of Bollington. These days it houses apartments and businesses including a community Canalside Radio on 102.8 FM.

Nest in the making.

Our cruising day ended at 12.05pm at Fourlane Ends where we will stay for tonight. Just as we moored up drizzle began to fall, so it looked like we timed it just right. With it being lunchtime I cooked us bacon and eggs sandwiches with a coffee. Coal was bought in from the hold and the gas bottle was changed over because it ran out just as I was cooking my eggs.

Macclesfield.

Because we have a few days to wait until Kuranda can come out and look at our inverter/charger, we decided to stay on the 48 hour Gurnett Aqueduct mooring and take a walk into Macclesfield. Sods law I cleaned the brass yesterday whilst on the move and we woke up to rain beating down on the back cabin roof. Thankfully by the time we got up it had all but stopped, so we were still going to walk into the town.

Macclesfield is known as Treacle Town. It apparently refers to the centuries old accident when a horse drawn wagon overturned, spilling its cargo of Treacle onto the cobbles. The Treacle Market  is held once a month in its memory. Can you imagine how sticky the cobbles would have been ewwww. Macclesfield was once the world's biggest producer of finished silk. In 1832 there were 72 silk mills operating. Sadly Paradise Mill is the only one still working and that is only as a museum. I worked in a Silk Mill for a few years, not producing silk, but as a gown maker, the silk was still produced though at the mill. Macclesfield is also the original home of Hovis breadmakers, the mill is now apartments. Like so many towns and cities, Macclesfield has lost its industry and in away its heart.

Keith had measured the distance from the boat into Macclesfield at about a mile, so we locked the boat up walked down the steps to Ye Olde Kings Head Pub and headed off along the pavement into the town.

This was not the soap street, but it did make me smile. I do not watch Corrie, but do remember it from years ago when it was brilliant and had people like Elsie Tanner, Hilda Ogden etc in it.

We came across our first gold post box, this one was painted gold for Sarah Storey. This one celebrates Sarah’s gold medal winning performance for the track cycling Women's Individual C4-5 Road Race. Keith needed a new battery for his watch so that was one of the first things we did. Whilst we waited for it to be fitted we had a coffee in The Cheshire Gap.

The place is filled with wonderful pies, cakes and biscuits and has a real homely feel about it as well as great service with a smile. After our coffee it was on to the browsing and retail therapy, we found the indoor market and I got a new zip for Keith’s Summer trousers and some bits and bobs. Macclesfield is a lovely town with a huge history and some lovely buildings.

Having walked around most of the town we had some lunch in Wetherspoons.

The Society Rooms was an 18th-century vicarage and college.

The war memorial which on the 6 posts have a lot of names of soldiers from the town killed in the first world war. Many of them it would appear from the same families, at least going by the surnames.

Before heading back to the boat we went into a charity shop and I bought a pair of brand new unworn  Campri Walking  Boots in a charity shop for £7.99, bargain! My old ones had a hole in them and even though they will be fine in the dry for a while, they will leak in the wet. I am so chuffed.

Macclesfield is a wonderful town and we really enjoyed our visit. Someone once sad to me that Macclesfield was a drab and dirty town, I could not disagree more, it is beautiful and has begun to re-invent itself. I totally recommend a visit, you will not be disappointed.

We walked back to the boat past Ye Olde Kings Head pub.

It was established in 1695 and was once a working Smithy. We have heard good reports about the food and drink. Having got back to the boat, I wanted to post a card, so I set off out again to the post box we had passed on our way back to the boat. I then went in search of a plaque to James Brindley.

James Brindley was born in Thornsett, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, to James and Susannah Brindley, His mother taught him to read and write by his mother. In 1733 at the age of 17  James Brindley, the famous canal engineer, was apprenticed to Abraham Bennett in Gurnett. A Wheelwright and Millwright by trade, Abraham Bennett lived in the village of Gurnett in Sutton, in the ancient Cheshire parish of Prestbury, near Macclesfield. After he had served his apprenticeship he continued as a journeyman and two years later, about 1741, started as a millwright on his own, first at Leek and then, in 1750, at Burslem.

After taking a stroll it was back to the boat to put my feet up for a while.

Hall Green to Gurnett Aqueduct, Macclesfield.

Travelled 13.46 miles, worked 12 locks and 2 swing bridges in a time of 7 hours 15 minutes.

It was a cooler start to our day, but the sun did keep putting in an appearance, so it was not all bad. We left Hall Green at 8.05am and were hoping to get as far as possible.

Lovely old horse enjoying some carrots and apples, that were thrown to it by a walker, as we passed by Scholar Green.

Our first proper glimpse of Mow Cop.

Whilst passing Ramsdell Hall, which is absolutely stunning, a Ewe had just given birth to her first lamb and looked like she may have another one coming. Spring is all about new birth and this is nature in the raw. Despite seeing many births of livestock as a child I never get feed up with seeing it still.

Onward through Congleton.

A cow of a different breed at Bridge 60.

Approaching Bosley Cloud.

Onward to Bosley Locks and up through the first of them at 11.15am

Bosley Cloud in the clouds, as seen from Bosley locks.

Keith and I had a good routine going up the flight and we got to the top at 1.15pm.

At the top of Bosley locks we came across Brian & Anne-Marie on NB Alton, we hope to meet up with them for a pint whilst we are up this way. We also met up with NB Bide your time, who we usually see on the Leicester Line. We will see them again as they are heading to Whaley Bridge.

Royal Oak swingbridge, where you put in your C&RT key press the button and away it goes, unlike Broadhurst swingbridge.

 

I put the key in, turned it and tried to lift the bar, but it would not shift. A walker and his wife came and gave me a hand, but even between us we could not get the lifting bar to come up. Keith pulled into the mooring and managed to get it up with our big crowbar. Then I couldn’t get the bridge to open, so Keith nudged it with the bow, then it wouldn’t swing shut again to release our key, so he  had to reverse back and give me a hand. The couple that helped us are involved with the Macclesfield Society and had said that there had been reports of problems with the swingbridge, so Keith has sent a fault report to C&RT, because with the boating season now underway, it is going to cause big issues. I am not a weakling and I really did struggle, I am amazed I did not give myself a hernia.

Lambs playing like naughty children, it was wonderful to see.

We moored up not long afterwards at  Gurnett Aqueduct, Macclesfield. That was our cruising day done, but work does not stop. I did a hand wash and then made a Spagetti Bolognaise for dinner. Looking forward to putting my feet up for the evening. Keith has been on to Kuranda and they should be able to come and see us at Bugsworth Basin next week, so we will potter around for a few days.

Random Photographs.

Having not been able to post photographs when we were in Braunston due to only a GPRS signal, here are a few random photos.

Midge off of NB Witch Boy.

Aldgate.

Braunston Church.

Braunston Windmill.

Lesley off of NB Yarwood.

Joe on NB Yarwood.

Crows nesting high in the tree tops. Does this bode well for the Summer?

Wool on the wire.

My Birthday.

Many thanks to everyone who sent me messages for my birthday. I had a quiet but lovely day which ended with Keith and I eating out at Thai Lanna in Stone.

Keith wondering where to start.

We ordered one of the set meals

Mae Jem Set Meal (For TWO or more people)

Thai Lanna Platter
A beautiful selection of delicious Thai appetisers. Served with a selection of sauces.

Tom Yam Gung
A famous Thai spicy soup with prawns, lemon grass, galingale and lime leaves. We selected the mild version.

Nua Roul Dang
Stir-fried beef in a red wine sauce, sprinkled with cashew nuts.

Stir-fried prawns with fresh chilli and mushrooms.

Gang Keow Gai
Thai green chicken curry with a blend of green chillies lemon grass,kaffir lime leaf, herbs, spices and coconut milk.

Pud Chab Chai
Stir-fried mixed seasonal vegetables with black mushrooms, vermicelli and egg.

Nua Hoi
Stir-fried beef with broccoli and oyster sauce.

Kao Pud Kai    Egg fried rice.

There was plenty to choose from, and I was hungry.

Me tucking in mmmmm.

All washed down with a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Wine, and followed with a Crème de Menthe Ice Cream Bombe.

It was wonderful.